Darien Lake adds rides, cabins

Visitors to Darien Lake will find new rides and other upgrades this season.

The theme park and resort has pumped $5 million into renovations and additions.

The park's three newest rides are gathered in a new family-friendly area called "Rowdy's Ridge."

It includes "Heave Ho!," a self-propelled ride that allows riders to pull themselves by rope to the top of a three-story tower, then plunge back to the bottom. "Moose on the Loose" lets visitors ride a moose on a track, while the "Hornet's Nest" lets riders control a flying, spinning swing.

Visitors staying overnight will find 15 new cabins, complete with Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, and seven new, larger RV campsites with more power accommodations. The Lodge on the Lake Hotel will have a bigger game room, new fitness center and larger cafe menu.

The investment will "vastly improve the overall experience for guests," said Bob Montgomery, the park's general manager.

In 2010, Darien Lake invested $7 million into renovations, which included a major overhaul and expansion of its water park. "Splash Town" added three new attractions, more family-friendly amenities and a separate entrance with separate pricing so visitors could choose to pay a lower price and visit just the water park.

Those renovations also included adding 24 upscale log cabins.

The 2010 project received $383,200 in sales tax exemptions and another $48,746 in property tax exemptions over 10 years from the Genesee County Economic Development Center.